Nigeria faces fresh US pressure as lawmakers push religious bill

United States lawmakers have introduced fresh legislation aimed at confronting religious persecution in Nigeria, with a strong emphasis on holding the Nigerian government accountable for protecting vulnerable communities, particularly Christians.

The proposed bill, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (HR 7457), was unveiled on Tuesday, according to a press release issued by Riley Moore, Congressman  on his official website.

The legislation is sponsored by. Moore (R-West Virginia) and Chris Smith (R-New Jersey), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa.

It has drawn significant backing from senior Republican lawmakers, including House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-Florida), Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security and Related Programs Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Florida), and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and East Asia Chairman Bill Huizenga (R-Michigan).

If passed, the bill would mandate the U.S. Secretary of State to submit a comprehensive report to Congress detailing efforts to address religious violence and mass atrocities in Nigeria.

The report would assess Nigeria’s compliance with international religious freedom standards, the treatment of internally displaced persons (IDPs), enforcement of blasphemy laws, the effectiveness of security assistance, and actions taken to prosecute perpetrators and dismantle extremist networks.

Moore said he had witnessed the situation firsthand during a recent visit to Nigeria.

“For years, Christians in Nigeria have faced unspeakable violence, churches burned, villages destroyed, families slaughtered, while the global community looked away,” Moore stated.

He explained that as part of an investigation requested by President Donald Trump, he traveled to Nigeria to assess the situation directly.

“I visited Nigeria and witnessed firsthand the horrors our brothers and sisters in Christ face and saw the security challenges Nigeria faces,” Moore said.

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He added that the bill sends a clear message that the United States stands with persecuted Christians and seeks to help Nigeria confront its security challenges.

Moore, however, acknowledged ongoing cooperation between both countries, applauding the Nigerian government for coordinating with the Trump administration to address insecurity.

He said he remains committed to strengthening U.S.-Nigeria relations to help save lives.

On his part, Chris Smith, who has chaired 13 congressional hearings on religious persecution in Nigeria, argued that the crisis has worsened due to what he described as official denial by Nigerian authorities.

“The Nigerian government’s blatant denial of the religious persecution occurring within its borders has only enabled the religious-based violence in the country to fester, with Christian deaths and church attacks reaching unprecedented numbers,” Smith said.

Smith referenced  Trump’s November 2025 redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), a status that allows the U.S. executive branch to apply diplomatic and economic measures.

“Now that President Trump has rightly redesignated Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern,’ the United States has a responsibility to do its due diligence in ensuring that the Nigerian government is taking the proper steps to address and punish the systemic violence against Christians and non-radical Muslims by Islamist extremists,” he said.

He warned that inaction by both governments could embolden extremist groups to escalate attacks, stressing that Washington must remain steadfast in promoting religious freedom globally.

Brian Mast, Chairman, House Foreign Affairs Committee said the “free world cannot stand by as Christians face mass murders, kidnappings and brutal assaults at the hands of terrorist thugs and armed militias in Nigeria,” urging Nigerian authorities to eliminate what he described as the scourge of religious persecution.

Similarly,  Tom Cole, Chairman, House Appropriations Committee, framed the initiative as both a moral and strategic priority.

“Defending religious liberty in Nigeria and worldwide is both a moral duty and a vital American interest. The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 makes it clear: religious persecution will not be tolerated”, Cole said.

The bill underscores renewed congressional pressure on Nigeria to demonstrate measurable progress in protecting religious freedom and curbing violence linked to extremist groups.

Following Nigeria’s redesignation as a CPC in November 2025, Moore visited the country, meeting with senior Nigerian officials and touring areas affected by terror attacks.

Discussions reportedly centered on allegations of ongoing persecution of Christians, broader terrorist threats, and opportunities for deeper U.S.-Nigeria cooperation to end the violence.

Moore stressed that the United States stands ready to coordinate and cooperate with Nigeria but will not tolerate continued violence against Christians or other forms of religious persecution.

He also noted that President Trump “does not make idle threats,” signaling Washington’s willingness to apply diplomatic tools if necessary.

The U.S. indicated that Moore would continue monitoring developments and pressing the Nigerian government to accept what he described as an open hand of cooperation to combat extremist threats and protect all religious communities.

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